



. -^i 






LC3933 

•^7^J REPORT 



ON 



Fresno's Immigration 
Problem 



With Particular Reference to Educational 
Facilities and Requirements 



/^"•'^y/ / 3 



State Commission of Immigration and Housing 
of California 



MARCH, 1918 




37548 



CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE 

SACRAMENTO 

19 18 






Personnel of the Commission. 



COMMISSIONERS. 

SIMON J. LUBIN, Peesident Sacramento 

MOST REV. E. J. HANNA, D.D., Vice President San Francisco 

MRS. FRANK A. GIBSON . Los Angeles 

J. H. McBRIDE, M.D Pasadena 

PAUL SCHARRENBERG, Secbetaby San Francisco 

GEORGE L. BELL, Attoeney and Executive Officer. 

Offices of the Commission. 

Main Office: 

Underwood Building, 525 Market street, San Francisco. 

Branch -Offices : 

22G Union League Building, Second and Hills streets, Los Angeles. 

121 Edgerly Building, Fresno. 

lOlOi Second street, Sacramento. 

Council Chamber, City Hall, Stockton. 



0, of D. 
MAY 10 1918 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



To His Excellency, William D. Stephens, 
Governor of California. 

Sir : We have the honor to submit herewith a report on the immigra- 
tion problem in Fresno. This is one of a series of publications that the 
commission is issuing in order to impress upon the people of the state 
the immensity and importance of the problems presented by our una^- 
similated, foreign born population. It is hoped that publication of such 
facts and recommendations as are contained herein will arouse other 
communities to consider their immigration problems and to immediately 
undertake the task of thoroughly "Americanizing" all their resident 
population. 

Certainly there is no more pressing or necessary war time work than 
this of establishing American ideals and unity of purpose among the 
people of many races who, in a steady stream, throughout the past 
century, have migrated to this western continent and joined in the 
building up of our great and democratic nation. 

The survey upon which this report is based was conducted by Miss 
Ethel Richardson, director of the Commission's bureau of education. 
The list of Fresno officials, private clubs and organizations, as well as 
individual citizens, who aided in this work is so long that the commission 
can do no more than generally acknowledge and express its appreciation 
of this generous cooperation on the part of the community. 

Respectfully yours, 

Commission op Immigration and Housing 
OP California. 



TOTAL REGISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA, MILITARY DRAFT, 
JUNE 5, 1917, 298,989. 

TOTAL ALIEN REGISTRATION IN CALIFORNIA, MILITARY 
DRAFT, JUNE 5, 1917, 64,960. 

PERCENTAGE OF ALIEN REGISTRATION, 21.7 PER CENT. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Bureau of Education of the State Commission of Immigration 
and Housing was created that there might be a special department, the 
business of which is to stimulate communities to use all their local 
machinery for the rapid assimilation and education of their foreign 
born. It is not the intention of the Commission to form new and expen- 
sive organizations for carrying out its programs of Americanization, but 
rather to utilize such facilities as the communities offer — to show exist- 
ing institutions their opportunity for wider usefulness. 

With the purpose of working out such a plan as this the Commission 
sent the Director of the Bureau of Education to Fresno, to study its 
immigration problems and to submit to the Commission constructive 
suggestions. 



REPORT. 

H. G. Wells saj^s that the most remarkable thing about the foreign 
born in America is that we do not know he is in our midst. This 
generalization does not hold so far as Fresno is concerned. That many 
people are ignorant of his methods of living and the problems which he 
creates is undoubtedly true, but numerically he is so important that he 
can not be overlooked. An accompanjdng table gives the estimated 
numbers of the most important groups. 

A large number of these people live "across the tracks," in the so- 
called "foreign quarter." Fresno is therefore divided nationally as 
well as geographically and sociallj^ by the Southern Pacific tracks. 
Originally the Armenians lived ' ' on the other side, ' ' but, becoming more 
prosperous, they gradually began buying homes in what is called an 
"American neighborhood" where they are now settled. The Northern 
Europeans, Danes, Swedes and Norwegians also live on this side of town. 
These Scandinavians are numerous, but seem to be mc?st assimilable, and 
are already fairly well Americanized. However, a new Danish church 
which has just been dedicated proves that they are still clinging to their 
own language for worship. One Swedish church in Fresno has a mem- 
bership of 100 and a congregation of 200. Throughout the county there 
are numerous towns in which more than 60 per cent of the inhabitants 
is Danish or Scandinavian. There are also large numbers of Portuguese 
in both the city and the county, some of whom maintain their national 
traditions and language. At least two women's clubs and two men's 
societies are fairly active. However, little study has been made of these 
people as they are not the group claiming immediate interest. 

Although the Armenians are probably the most important numerically 
of the foreign born in Fresno, they are capable of taking care of them- 
selves. Before the war, according to one of their newspaper men, they 
numbered 12,000 in Fresno County. They came to California from 
New York and other Eastern centers about thirty years ago, because 
they were desirous of devoting their energies to agriculture. A few 
leaders investigated various places for opportunities and finally decided 
on Fresno. There was a good bit of suffering and a hard struggle in 
the beginning, but as a colony they won out. They have been most 
successful in business as well as in agriculture. Every office building 
has large numbers of Armenian names on the doors, for the professions 
as well as for all sorts of business enterprises. As a consequence, the 
second generation is receiving greater opportunity. Years of oppres- 
sion have made them aggressive and eager to seize every opportunity for 
advancement that the freedom of America has to offer. They take full 



8 Fresno's immigration problem. 

advantage of the public scliool and keep their children there as long as 
possible. Last year 50 per cent of the High School orchestra was 
Armenian, and there were a number of girls enrolled at the Normal 
School. 

Unfortunately, the Armenians exhibit certain antisocial traits which 
stand in the way of their being easily assimilated. They are so aggres- 
sive that their ambition sometimes carries them into questionable busi- 
ness practices. Many men report difficulty in holding the Armenians 
to their contracts. Consequently, although they are not a serious eco- 
nomic problem, their methods of achieving success have so often stirred 
up animosity among the native born Americans, that real antagonisms 
have resulted. 

It seems reasonable to suppose, hoAvever, that this extreme individual- 
ism is a habit acquired in ah effort to survive the oppression of Turkish 
rule. When it is found undesirable for social welfare in this country, 
no doubt this objectionable trait will be lost. Already some of Fresno's 
highly respected citizens are Armenians. 

The following information on the court record of the Armenians was 
furnished to the Immigration Commission by Mr. George O'Hannesian, 
an attorney who is interested in the social progress of his people. This 
record covers a period of thirty years. It shows that our civilization 
has nothing to fear from these people in connection with the crimes 
covered, which do not indicate all causes for arrest, but show the fine 
domestic relations of the Armenian people. 

Divorces 11 

Failure to provide 3 

Immorality 2 

Drunkenness ' 10 

Murder : 

Deliberate 1 

Self-defense 2 

While there are three large churches conducting services in the native 
tongue, and many adults do not speak English, their Americanization 
is going forward rapidly. Since they are so aggressively ambitious, 
the door is already open for American contact. Therefore, it is impor- 
tant to break down any prejudice which is founded on national antago- 
nism. 

The Italians and Mexicans live in the same locatio"n. The former 
occupy the houses which are larger and in better repair, and the latter 
are scattered about in the poorer dwellings. The Mexicans are lower 
economically than tlie other groups of foreign born. They do not so 
generally own their homes; they live in the worst houses, and the 
teachers in the sdiooLs repoi't tliat the cliildven are inadequately dressed 
and fed. 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. U 

The Italians are of an uniisnally high class, although they come from 
both the north and south of Italy, as well as from Sicily. In making 
investigation into the homes, the desire to learn English and have more 
association with Americans was often expressed. As is usual among 
Italians, the home life is superior to that of many native born Ameri- 
cans. The girls especially are protected until they leave home or get 
married. As a consequence, few Italian women are haled into court, 
although many men are registered for immorality and other crimes. 

Neither the Mexicans nor Italians seem to have any particular leader 
or esprit de corps. Through their church, which celebrates saint and 
feast days, the Italians have some outlet for their love of ceremonials. 
Columbus Hall in the Italian quarter serves as an occasional meeting 
place for social events. A Baptist jMission has a settlement house which 
conducts the usual educational and social, as well as religious, activities 
of such an organization. 

At a performance of Eigoletto given by the La Scala Opera Com- 
pany, the balcony was practically filled with Italians, who came in shirt 
sleeves and sweaters. They showed great familiarity with the score and 
were most appreciative. No effort is made in Fresno to foster this 
musical appreciation. 

The Japanese live behind Chinatown. They keep the rooming houses 
which cause most trouble to the housing inspector. The Hindus and 
other migratory foreign laborers stay here during the summer, and 
overcrowding and insanitation result. More and more women are com- 
ing to this part of Fresno, and the alleys are full of Japanese and 
Chinese children. There is a large Buddhist temple and a Protestant 
Mission in this neighborhood. In the city most of the men are mer- 
chants, in the country they are farmers or contractors. 

Chinatown in Fresno is so like Chinatown everywhere that it need not 
be described. There are about 40 women and 150 children living in 
the community. It is in the old segregated district, and still offers a 
menace to morality, through its six shooting galleries, where women are 
employed. Policemen, probation officers and the school truant officer 
agree that the proper protection can not be given the moral standard of 
the city nor to the girls and boys from the various adjacent foreign 
neighborhoods while t;his evil is tolerated. 

The unique and most difficult of all Fresno's immigration problems 
is the Russian-German. These people were invited to Russia by the 
Tzar, because of their agricultural ability. As inducement they Avere 
given land and capital to cultivate it. They lived in Russia for 150 
years as a superior people. Their onlj^ contact with Russian life was 
with their servants. They never mingled socially and they retained 
their own churches, language and national traditions. When the 



10 Fresno's immigration problem. 

promises of the Tzar i\'ere not kept and they had exhausted the 
fertility of the soil, the Germans were persuaded to emigrate by Ameri- 
can real estate agents. This emigration began about 1880. When the 
vanguard landed in New York they were reciuired to state their desti- 
nation in the West. They had no definite place in mind, but gave 
Fresno County, California, because it was the only place they could 
recall from the talks that a school teacher had given them concerning 
America. Thus, by the merest chance, a large colony came to and settled 
in Fresno County. 

These people lived in isolation in Russia as superiors, and have lived 
in equal isolation in America as servants and day laborers. This isola- 
tion and the consequent inbreeding have left them static. They have not 
advanced in their habits of living or thinking, and are about 200 years 
behind the Germans v/lio stayed in their own country at the time of the 
first migration. They have forgotten most of their best traditions and 
retained many of the worst. 

They have the most puritanical ideas of religion and a purely nega- 
tive, prohibitive standard. Although they have ten churches, they 
contribute little to the grov,'th or development of the people. Some of 
their ministers v;ould be glad to broaden out and give their people more 
ethics with their religion but the parishioners refuse to tolerate this. 
One minister reported that even a lecture on Palestine in the church 
would be regarded as sacreligious. 

Naturally such a church makes no appeal to the young people. One 
minister said that he had formed a young people's society, but had 
dropped it because the boys and girls wanted to have "socials" in the 
church, and he did not approve of that. After confirmation they soon 
drift away. Only a small part of the community is now in regular 
attendance at the church, and of the 150 or more young people confirmed 
last year few find their places at the services. 

In spite of its inadequacy, the church is the only social institution 
which reaches the adults at all. This makes a real reason why it should 
be made to function. There is absolutely no social life of any kind for 
these people. The streets are very dark at night, the houses dimly lit, 
often with lamps, and the nearest moving picture show is in Chinatown. 

One of the most serious problems of the community is created by the 
industrial life. Both the men and the v\'omen work in packing houses 
during the entire season. When the fruit is disposed of and no more 
work is avai]a])le there, the vroraeu go into domestic service by the day. 
In the Kirk School the mothers of 72 per cent of the children are regu- 
larly employed. This leaves the smaller children on the street from 
early morning until dark. The investigator called in homes as late as 
7.30 p.m. and found the mothers still absent and the children in the yard 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 11 

or on the street. Babies of nine months are left in charge of five-year- 
olds, or a girl is surreptitiously kept home from school to take care of 
the children. In some cases one grandmother in the neighborhood is 
paid to look after all the children. This she is unable to do, as she 
seldom leaves her own chimney corner. One of the clergymen of the 
community said, "Our children get their education on the streets and 
in Chinatown." 

Because of their industry, poverty is not a great problem among these 
people — only 65 Russian-German applicants for relief are shown on the 
yearly report of the Countj^ Relief Commission. 

Their households show extreme frugality even where it is not 
necessary. These bare, uninviting homes, with their harsh standards, 
offer little inducement to the young people. Although the children 
receive as little schooling as possible, they become sufficiently imbued 
with American spirit and ideas to be thoroughly ashamed of their 
parents. They resent the dress, the habits and method of living of the 
older generation. This situation is common among all foreign born 
people, but it is specially noticeable among the Russian-Germans of 
Fresno. 

The most deplorable fact about the Russian-Germans is their low- 
moral standard. Whether caused b}^ their harsh religious restraint and 
the lack of recreation, or by their isolation lasting over generations, 
there is great immorality among them, especially among the young 
people. Cases are so frequent that they often fail to get before the 
juvenile judge, and no effort is made on their own part or' that of their 
American neighbors to meet this condition. 

Throughout the foreign districts of Fresno there is great need for 
public health work of all sorts. Pink eye and impetigo were exceedingly 
prevalent during the fall. Due to lack of understanding of food values, 
and the absence of the mothers in industry, there is much malnutrition, 
vfhich offers ready soil for tuberculosis. 

Social Agencies. Americanization. 

Any description of Fresno's social agencies that might be truthful 
at the time of writing will soon be inadequate, as their progressive spirit 
makes them move so fast toward better and more complete organization, 
that what is true today is only partial truth tomorrow. However, as 
practically every social agency in the community must be utilized if 
these foreign people are to receive any contact, which will work for 
their amalgamation into a national unit, the available agencies are listed 
below, and their functions briefly described: 



12 Fresno's immigration problem. 

Fresno City Health Department. 

1. Health Officer — A part-time i)liysieiaii who directs department. 
Has all work of prevention of spread of contagious diseases. Of the 
11 cases of scarlet fever in Fresno in October, 1917, only two were 
' ' across the tracks. ' ' 

2. Sanitary Inspector — Estimates that one-half to one-third of viola- 
tions exist in houses occupied by the foreign born. 

3. Housing Inspector — Has just begun work and is making a survey 
of downtown rooming houses and tenements. With the exception of 
those in Chinatown and one Portuguese, five Japanese and two Greeks, 
these houses are all kept by Americans. 

4. Clinic — Opened October, 1917, for tubercular and general work. 
After two months 300 tubercular cases had been discovered by tubercu- 
losis nurse. Of cases on treatment 79 per cent are foreign born. 
Ninety per cent of general cases are foreign born, except emergency 
street accidents, etc. 

Playground Commission. 

A splendid system of playgrounds covers the city of Fresno. 

In the winter playgrounds are open from 3.40 to 6.00 p.m. 

The Cosmos playground has Russian- German children; the Fink- 
Smith has Italians, Mexicans and Negroes ; California Field has Armeni- 
ans — the easiest to manage. 

Unfortunately, the Cosmos playground has no clubhouse built upon 
it, as its location may be changed. Consequently, there is no oppor- 
tunity for this part of the city to have access to any recreation there 
except for yard work. The commission is conscious of the great need 
for recreation in this district, and anxious to meet it. 

County Probation Office. 

This office had 173 cases from January to October, 1917. Although 
no nationality statistics are available, a map was made of the cases in 
the city, and judging from their geographical location they are as 
follows : 

Armenians 33 

Russian-Germans 29 

Japanese and Chinese 15 

Mexicans and Italians 26 

Total foreign born 103 

. • Americans 70 

Total 173 

The chief probation officer, who has been in office twelve years, esti- 
mated that ninety per cent of the cases are American born, but of these 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 13 

40 per cent are of foreign parentage. He traces much of this delin- 
quency to the breach between the younger and older generation. 

Fresno County Welfare Commission. 

There has recently been a reorganization in this commission. All the 
welfare work of the county, including the hospital, orphanage and out- 
door relief, has been placed under one department of the county, con- 
trolled by a commission of six, two of whom are supervisors. This will 
tend to coordination and better administration. 

Y. M. C. A. 

This organization formerly maintained headquarters among the 
Chinese and conducted classes in English and gymnastics. This has 
been discontinued. 

Y. W. C. A. 

When possible the foreign born girls and girls of foreign parentage 
are invited to become club members. No other definite foreign work is 
done. 

A branch is maintained in the packing house district, where the 
women employed in the fruit may get hot lunch at a reasonable price. 

Library, County and City.- 

The library has made no definite appeal for foreign patrons. 

Branches and deposit stations are established in rural communities 
which serve only those who, can read English. 

Public Schools. 

There are 46 nationalities represented in Fresno schools beside native 
Avhites and negroes. Of these the Russian- Germans are most numerous ; 
the Armenians next. 

The percentage of the foreign born who have availed themselves of 
the opportunity to become citizens is exceedingly small. The schools in 
which there are the highest percentage of foreign born have the lowest 
percentage naturalized. 



School 


Per cent 

of fathers 

foreign 

bom 


Per cent 
of fathers 
naturalized 


Kirk - - -— _: 


97 
93 
95 
89 
71 


9 




29 




22 




34 




49 







Fifty per cent of all the fathers in the city schools are foreign born, 
and only 36 per cent are naturalized. In fact, only 210 people have 
received their second papers in the last two years. 



14 Fresno's immigration problem. 

More significant than naturalization, is the language spoken in the 
home. In two schools in more than 90 per cent of the homes a foreign 
language is spoken. This figure goes to 99 per cent in one school dis- 
trict. Fifty per cent of the families in five schcools do not use English, 
and in every school of the city there are some families still speaking 
their native tongue. 

It is a matter that should receive the immediate attention of all 
native born Americans interested in our national unity when in a city 
of the size of Fresno, a foreign language is spoken in 41 per cent of the 
homes of the school children. 

When one considers how many social problems arise from the broken 
home, it is worth contemplating the small percentage of separations in 
the foreign neighborhoods. In the Kirk School where 97 per cent of 
the fathers are foreign born only 4 per cent are separated. This is 
probably due to two facts, the most important being that the foreign 
woman is much less independent than the American and considers obedi- 
ence to her husband a duty; no doubt, however, one can also interpret 
these figures to indicate closer home ties and more respect for domestic 
relationship than is common with the native born. Unfortunately, 
although the separations are few, so many of the foreign mothers go out 
to work that the homes must receive inadequate attention. 

Fewer Armenian women work than women of other nationalities, as 
only 29 per cent are reported from the Emerson School. The Eussian- 
Germans have the greatest number working, 72 per cent in the Kirk 
School and 53 per cent in the Lincoln. The Columbia School, which is 
largely attended by Italians and Mexicans, has 35 per cent of the 
mothers employed. 

In none of the Fresno schools are there any of the features of the 
so-called neighborhood schools. There are no day nurseries, penny 
luncheons, special classes, and the teachers seldom visit in the homes of 
the children. This visiting is made particularly difficult by the fact 
that the mothers do not get home until after five o'clock. Nevertheless, 
a number of teachers are interested in the further development of the 
social side of the school. 

The teaching of English to the children of the receiving grades in 
these foreign schools is unexcelled anywhere in California and offers a 
fine foundation for starting adult work. 

Three new kindergartens have been opened this year and their value 
is proved by the fact that they are all overcrowded. 

The Edison school is an intermediate school in the seventh and eighth 
grades. This is the only place where domestic science or any manual 
work has been taught in the foreign districts; 93.4 per cent of the 
fathers of children in this school are foreign born. 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 15 

One night school class is maintained but has been attended by work 
permit children, as well as adults. This makes proper teaching im^pos- 
sible. Eecently extra rooms have been opened and normal cadets are 
assisting with the instruction. 

The social agencies of the school are the school nurse, the attendance 
officer, and the psychologist. The school nurse is a medical doctor. 
She has an excellent manner of approach in a home and spends most of 
her time in the foreign schools. She is making every effort to control 
the spread of contagion by going into the home and explaining the need 
of care to the parents. She is indefatigable in her efforts and works 
overtime and on Sundays to keep up with the 7,000 children under 
her care. 

The psychologist is also interested in the homes but teaches a class of 
feeble-minded children and can not devote much time to other work. 

Fresno is fortunate in having a superintendent of schools and a 
Board of Education that are interested in increasing the educational 
scope of the schools and making them as effectual as possible in the 
community. In the last analysis the largest factor in Americanization 
must be the school. 

Americanization Committee. 

At the time of this survey, the Vice State Chairman of Americaniza- 
tion of the Women's Committee for National and State Councils of 
Defense was just beginning her work in the San Joaquin Valley. She 
immediately assembled her forces and organized machinery for carry- 
ing out a suggested program. Due to her efforts, and the progressive 
spirit of the school superintendent, as well as to the extraordinary 
activity of all civic and social bodies, this splendid community program 
is now being initiated. 

In order to better coordinate the activities of all organizations which 
are factors in Americanization, the Commission's agent called together 
representatives of the various social agencies and women's clubs to 
discuss the foreign problem, especially the problem of the Russian- 
Germans. This group of people formed a definite organization known 
as the "Americanization Committee of the Community Welfare 
League," with an executive committee of four of which the Chairman 
of Americanization f-rom the AVomen's Committee is a member, to be 
responsible for the consideration and execution of a definite program. 
(See recommendations at end of this report.) 

In order to divide the work and to put all parts of the program into 
effect as quickly as possible, the executive committee was later increased 
to seven members, each one of whom is responsible for one activity. 
The organization is as follows : 

An executive committee meets each week at a stated hour and place 
to discuss the local program. 



16 Fresno's immigration problem. 

Each member of committee will take charge of one activity of which 
he will be chairman, getting the approval of the entire committee 
before acting. 

Departments are as follows : 

1 — Finance. 

2 — Edison School. 

3— Kirk School. 

4 — Columbia School. 

5 — Day Nursery. 

6 — ^Home Teacher. 

7— Emerson School. 

Each member will find an assistant, who may assume much of the 
responsibility of the detail of his department, the assistant, however, 
not to serve on the executive board. 

Each department chairman and assistant and suitable committee 
chosen by them will draw up tentative programs for his department and 
present same at the meetings of the executive committee. 

All recommendations of department chairmen, when ratified by the 
executive committee, will be reported to the Americanization Committee 
of the Community Welfare League as. recommendations of the executive 
committee and voted upon. 

The larger committee and its executive body, will keep in constant 
touch with changing conditions and be ready to offer new suggestions 
for bringing about the homogeneity of the community. 

Its adaptability was. shown by the request made by the committee that 
the music director in the schools repeat the splendid patriotic "com- 
munity sing" which was held in the Fresno Auditorium, using the 
auditorium of the Edison School which is in the center of the foreign 
district. This suggestion and the necessary extra work was accepted 
with alacrity. The children were trained as leaders and their parents, 
01 every race and nationality, invited to join in a patriotic song service. 

Miscellaneous Agencies. 

Besides the work of the Americanization Committee several splendid 
projects are afoot, which will be of great value to the community. The 
Child Welfare Department of the District Federation of Women's Clubs 
has started an experiment in feeding the children of the Columbia 
kindergarten. The purpose of this is twofold — the welfare of the child 
and the education of the mothers. The latter will be effected by send- 
ing home, each day, recipes of the luncheon. The children are receiving 
careful physical examination before and during the experiment, to dis- 
cover the results of proper feeding. This experiment is only a part of 
a larger work to be carried on by Dr. Flora Smith of the Child Welfare 
Department of the District Federation of Women's Clubs. 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 17 

The playground commission has increased its activities by keeping 
open. at night both at Fink-Smith and California Field. In the former 
place an orchestra has been started among the Italian boys. The play- 
ground work has been still further developed by the employment of a 
social worker, who can speak German and who will spend most of her 
time in the Russian-German community. 

.One of the most significant social welfare undertakings in Fresno, is 
the organization of the Sunmaid Welfare League of the California Asso- 
ciated Raisin Company. This company has 38 packing houses and 
employs from 1,800 to 2,500 people in the season. In 1915, an organiza- 
tion of all the employees from the president to the most casual laborer 
was effected. Membership is voluntary and about 90 per cent of the 
employees have availed themselves of the opportunity. The league has 
committees on every subject Avhich pertains to the welfare of the 
workers. These committees are chosen by the employees and the man- 
ager of the plant is the league manager. 

The most important activity is the health work. A complete system 
of social health insurance has been established. The plan was worked 
out with the assistance of the State Social Insurance Commission. If 
an employee is ill, after five days he receives benefits of $1.00 a day for 
thirteen weeks. Nurses are regularly employed both in the plants and 
to do visiting in the home. These women take care of slight accidents 
as well as give care to those who are incapacitated. 

In one of the larger city plants there is a well-equipped clinic. 

To meet the cost of financing this league, each employee gives one 
day's wage. Whatever amount is realized by this method, is doubled 
by the association. This donation is made on the theory that a system 
which secures better standards of health to its employees is profitable 
to the company. The work of the league is continually expanding. 
Next year a program of Americanization is to be inaugurated. This 
may include care of the children, educational classes at noon, as well as 
extension of benefits to the entire family. 

The Association of Collegiate Alumna is performing a great service by 
making a financial survey of the schools. Especial attention is to be 
given to the equipment and expenditures in the foreign schools. This 
can not fail to be productive of great good. Fresno has grown so 
rapidl}^ that it has not been possible for the school to keep pace with its 
development. A ridiculously small amount of money is appropriated 
for schools and the appropriations have failed to increase in proportion 
to the increase in population. Even the best administration fails when 
its funds are so hopelessly inadequate. 

However, no one who has seen the community spirit of Fresno can 
fail to have faith that the people there will meet this larger demand 
with their usual generosity and enthusiasm. 



18 Fresno's immigration problem. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

Through the courtesy of the Board of Education and Superintendent 
of Schools, the commission's agent was permitted, in addition to the 
general survey, to serve the four foreign schools as home teacher. This 
gave her a more intimate contact with the foreign home and a better 
understanding of the lives of the people than she could have obtained in 
any other way. After six weeks work and careful consultation with 
educators, and in cooperation with the various interested individuals 
and agencies in Fresno, the following recommendations were formulated 
by the State Commission of Immigration and Housing : 

I. That a day nursery be opened at the Kirk or Lincoln school at an 
hour early enough to permit mothers to leave their children before 
going to work. The school to furnish the room, the salary of a nurse to 
be furnished either b;/ the school or some woman's organization and the 
lunch to be self-supporting through a charge for each child. 

II. That the playground commission use the Kirk school in the even- 
ing as a part of the Cosmos playground; that the library put in a 
deposit station; and that a woman's club be responsible for a recrea- 
tional-educational program one night a week. 

III. That some club or chapter of the Daughters of the American 
Revolution assume the responsibility of planning a similar program to 
be given one night a week in the Edison auditorium. 

IV. That a music leader start a band among the Italian boys who are 
over school age, at the Columbia school ; that this band, when more pro- 
ficient, be used for programs in its own and other neighborhoods. 

V. That a home teacher be employed to work in the Kirk and Lincoln 
school districts, her hours afternoon and evening instead of morning 
and afternoon, and Monday or Friday her rest-day instead of Sunday ; 
that the teacher live in the vicinity of the schools. 

VI. That the Normal School supply cadets to help this Home Teacher 
in her group teaching, both for afternoon and evening, provided enough 
women unemployed in the afternoon can be found. 

VII. That teachers who have no classes after 2 o'clock in the 
Columbia School, be asked to devote the hour and a half to home visiting. 

VIII. That if suitable teachers can be found, a campaign be inaugu- 
rated to get the foreigii born into the night schools ; and that the Normal 
School assist by sending cadets to aid in teaching. 

None of this above program can be effective in a community unless all 
the conditions are as favorable as they are in Fresno, but all groups of 
people there are eager for a right understanding of their own problems 
and more than willing to devote their efforts to any constructive plan 
in which they are asked to co-operate. 

All the established social agencies as well as the clubs are particularly 
progressive and willing to co-operate in any constructive plan for the 
welfare of the community and are constantly readjusting themselves to 
meet new emergencies. 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 

STATISTICS. 



19 



Estimated Numbers of Foreign Born Residents in Fresno. 



aty 



County 



Armenians 

Russian Germans 

Italians 

Mexicans 

Germans 

Japanese 

English 

Danish 

Portuguese 

Chinese 

Greeks 

Hindus 

Swedes 

French 

Canadian 

All others 



Total 



5,000 


10,000 


5,000 


8,000 


2,000 


3,000 


2.000 


3,000 


1,500 


? 


1,000 


3, ceo 


1,000 


1 


800 


5,oor) 


700 




700 




200 




*100-1,000 




3Q0 


2,500 


100 




100 




1,000 









24,200 



*According to season. 



Naturalization Papers Granted: Fresno. 



Great Britain _.. 

Denmark 

Russia 

Sweden 

Italy .. 

Turkey 

Germany 

Switzerland 

Austria-Hungary 

Norway 

Greece 

France 

Netherlands 

Spain 

Montenegro 



Totals 



210 



20 



Fresno's immigration problem. 



Children of Foreign Born Fathers in Fresno City Schools. 





o 
B 


1 


1 
o 


1=1 
3" 


i 


in 

fa 


1 

i 


E 


§ 


1 


1 


a" 
1 


1 

1 


s 




76 


17 

131 

11 

35 

14 
5 

18 
1 

16 

10 

2 


165 


65 


399 


312 


499 


9 
371 
1 
6 
4 
2 


40 
456 
45 
10 
29 
44 
93 
2 


193 


520' 


414 


433 


3,142 




958 




10 

S51 

4 

101 

11 


304 

1 

15 

5 


4 


17 

4 

15 

1 


7 
4 
9 


12 
4 
12 


86 

1 

11 


10 

7 

19 


3 

2 
16 


14 
6 

8 


520 




431 




160 




158 




4 
7 
13 




3 
7 
3 
1 
9 

6 


16 

16 


1 
16 
11 


4 
10 
20 


'134 




11 

5 


13 


IS 
4 


4 
11 




105 




2 
30 
7 
9 
5 
41 
9 


85 


Chin'^s" 




30 


77 




18 

1 
5 




6 
3 
2 
1 
2 
10 


3 

6 

2 
2 
5 
1 
3 


11 
.4 
7 
1 
11 
5 
1 
1 
5 
1 
2 
1 




1 
2 
6 


4 
4 
7 


15 
4 
10- 


74 




3 


35 
4 
2 
1 
1 


65 




58 




55 


French _ 


2 
1 
6 
4 
2 
13 


2 


3 

3 

1 
2 
1 
1 

2 
1 


3 
6 
10 
3 
6 
2 
3 


3 

5 
8 

1 
8 


5 
4 
1 
2 


40 




39 


Irish 


1 
14 


3 


38 







1 

4 
4 


2 


3 


33 


Scotch 


30 












21 


Dutch 


1 
9 


3 
1 





1 


2 

1 

1 


2 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 


15 


Greek 


2 
9 
1 
5 




1 

1 
3 

3 
1 




15 

14 






1 
1 


.— 


3 


_-._ 


2 
2 
4 
4 
2 


14 






10 




1 






1 
3 


10 






2 







2 








10 




1 


1 






7 




3 


1 

2 




5 












1 

1 


1 






1 


1 


5 




1 
3 
2 

1 










1 






4 




3 






1 






















3 












2 












3 










1 




1 












2 












1 


1 


Azores Islands 


— - 








— - 






— - 






1 


1 


1 

1 




















1 




1 












1 

1 
















1 




























1 


















1 










1 






1 






















1 


























1 


1 






1 






















1 






1 






















1 






1 






















1 




1 

9 
























1 




5 


23 




23 


2 


4 


1 


14 


12 


7 


9 




109 






Totals 


700 


278 


602 


84 


526 


382 


603 


402 


826 


349 


641 


522 


550 


6,465 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 



21 



Birth Conditions — Fresno City Scliooi Children. 





1^ 


o 


Q 


'^, 


►ti 


i^ 


'•>. 


*T) 


o 


Q 


51 


hj 


'Z 


s; 


V, 




^ 




S 






c 




II 

•-t w 


1 




^-1 p. 

2 S s 


3 S 


c 
3 


a 'A 
11 




IP 


U 

2 






Name of school 


a 

B 


1° 


3-° 

1 S 


>-t 

■a 


; 2. 


If 




ag" 


o5 p-o 

1 s 


CO 




t 


a| 


§33 

S P ro 


•a 








1 


ffii 


1 n 


a 


1 o- 
ii 








j "^^ 


1 m 
1 3 




1 t? 

! 3 






_& 





B ^" 
1 B B 


Columbia 


700 


76 


615 


9 


89.0 


191 


68 


34.9 


81 


604 


15 


88.1 


667 


483 


72.4 


Edison 


278 


17 


256 


5 


93.4 


75 





28.2 


19 


255 


4 


93.6 


270 


226 







83.4 


Emerson 


602 


165 


414 


23 


71.5 


165 


80 


49.4 


172 


421 


9 


70.9 


588 


344 







58.5 


Franklin* 


84 


65 


19 





22.6 


5 





25.3 


63 


16 





19.0 


82 


12 







14.6 


Hawthorne — 


526 


399 


104 


23 


20.6 


51 


44 


85.0 


429 


78 


19 


15.3 


520 


56 







10.7 


.Taekson 


382 


312 


68 


2 


17.8 


25 


17 


49.0 


307 


73 


2 


18.9 


362 


SO 







8.2 


Jefferson 


603 


499 


100 


4 


16.6 


51 


9 


56.0 


472 


78 


53 


14.1 


570 


65 







11.4 


Kirk 


402 
826 


9 
40 


392 

772 


1 
14 


97.7 
95.0 


35 
161 


39 
39 


9.9 
21.9 


11 
39 


390 
775 


,1 


97.2 
95.2 


384 
804 


381 
730 








99.2 


Lincoln 


90.7 


T ongfellow — - 


349 


193 


144 


12 


42.7 


57 


3S 


52.7 


173 


128 


48 


42.1 


344 


92 




41 


30.3 


I owell 


641 


520 


114 


7 


17.9 


92 





80.0 


526 


102 


13 


16.2 


628 


38 







6.0 


Washington — 


522 


414 


m 


9 


19.2 


82 


1 


83.6 


411 


101 


10 


19.7 


518 


44 







8.4 


Webster 


550 
6,465 


433 
3,142 


117 



109 


21.0 


50 
1,030 


30 


57.4 


" 408 


106 


36 


20.6 


534 


76 







12.3 


Totals 


3,214 


50.4 


, 363 


36.1 3,116 3,127 

i 1 


222 


50.1 


6,271 


2,577 


41 


41.3 



•Report from one class lacking. 



Home Conditions — Fresno City Sch 


do! Ch 


Idren. 








1:3 


2! 


■u 


•z 


13 


►^ 


''I 


;z! 


Tl 




p» 


^11 


-* 

? 


III 


r, 


-B 


o g. 










a T *^ 








S'C 


2 w 








B 


^^P; 




m 






^^ 


1 






3 
§ 


^3 




p. re 




"-1 


1 ^ 


•-I 




Columbia 


7C0 
278 
602 


65 
33 
69 


9.8 
11.8 
11.2 


26 
14 
35 


3.7 
5 

5.8 


667 
270 
588 


256 
116 

176 







'?5'? 


Edison _ 


42.9 


Emerson 


29.9 


Franklin 


84 
526 


7 
74 


8.3 
15.2 


1 
41 


2.4 
7.9 


82 
520 


12 
107 






14.0 


Hawthorne 


20.5 


Jackson . 


382 
603 
402 


49 
35 
19 


12.9 
5.8 
4.7 


25 
34 
12 


6.5 
5.fl 
2.9 


362 
570 
384 


87 
83 
278 



40 




Of? 9 


Jefferson 


15.6 


Kirk 


72.4 


Lincoln 


826 


60 


7.7 


39 


5 


804 


390 


81 


53.9 


Longfellow 


349 


44 


12.6 


46 


IS.l 


344 


77 


38 


21.8 




641 
522 


58 
65 


9.7 
13.4 


37 
41 


6.1 
8.4 


628 
518 


59 
78 


133 



n 9 


Washington 


15 




550 


59 


10.7 


20 


3.2 


634 


95 





17,7 







VITAL STATISTICS. 

(a) Births: Fresno City, January 1-September 14, 1917. 

Americans 354 

Russian-Germans 53 

Japanese ' 53 

Italians 46 

Armenians 32 

British 24 

Turkish (probably Armenians) 1* 

Mexican ^2 

In connection with the births, it is valuable to note the inadequacy of 
the birth registration. 



22 



FRESNO S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. 



The following list of Russian-Grerman baptisms for 1917 shows that 
250 children of that nationality were born in the year, while only 53 
births were registered the first 9 months. 



Births or 
baptisms 



Cross Congregational . 
Zion Congregational .. 
Third Congregational . 

St. Paul Lutlieran. 

Wartburg Lutheran 

First German Baptist.. 

Immanuel Baptist 

Evangelical Association 

Methodist _. 

Church of God 

Total 



250 



(&) hifant Mortality : January 1-Seiptemher 30, 1917. 

American 37 

Japanese - 21 

Russian-German 18 

Armenian 11 

Italian 6 

Chinese 5 

Mexican 4 

British 4 

Spanish 2 

lYeneh 1 

Austrian 1 

Dalmatian 1 

Portuguese 1 

German 1 

Total 113 

American : ■ 37 (32.75%) 

Foreign bom V6 (87.25%) 



(c) Deaths: 1 to 16 years of age. 
tember 30, 1917. 



Fresno City, January 1 to Sep- 



American - 1^ 

Russian 13 

Italian ^ 

Mexican 5 

Armenian 3 

Chinese 2 

French 1 

Canadian 1 

Swedish 1 

Total *7 

American 18 (S4.(M%) 

Foreign bom ^1 (S5-95%) 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 23 

HEALTH. 

The extent to which the imniigrant causes a health problem in Fresno 
is shown by the following reports : 

(1) Cases under treatment, Tuberculosis Clinic, December 1, 1917. 

Mexican 35 

American 28 

Russian 27 

Italian 22 

Portuguese 13 

Armenian 4 

Swedish 2 

Canadian 2 

French 1 

Welsh 1 

Irish 1 

Scotch 1 

No report ^ 

Total - 141 

American '■ 28 (20.3%) 

Foreign bom 109 (79.6%) 

(2) Deaths from Tuberculosis, from October 1, 1916 to October" 1, 
1917 are as follows : 

American 51 

Russian-German 17 

Italian 12 

Japanese IS 

Chinese H 

British 8 

German 7 

Armenian 5 

Mexican 3 

Swedish 2 , 

Spanish 2 

Danish 1 

French 1 

Unknown 1 

Total ISS 

Foreign horn ■— S5 (62.42%) 

POVERTY. 

The extent to which the immigrant causes a poverty problem in 
Fresno is shown by the following reports. Poverty and economic 
dependence is not the outstanding feature of the foreign born of Fresno. 
They are industrious as a class, and the intensive agricultural produc- 
tion of the past summer has provided work for all the men and women 
who want it. 



24 ■ FRESNO ^S IMMIGRxVTION PROBLEM. 

(1) Nationality of applicants of the Fresno Comity Relief and 
Employment Commission for the year 1917. (Includes hospital cases 
in which nationality is unknown.) 

Unknown 324 

United States 320 

Eussian-Germans 65 

Mexico 63 

Armenia 33 

Italy 35 

Germany 21 

Indians 14 

Portugal . 11 

Denmark . 7 

England 7 

Sweden ^ 

Ireland * 

Scotland 3 

Canada - 3 

France 3 

Austria 3 

Norway 2 

Greece 2 

Spanish 1 

Russia 1 

Montenegro 1 

Cfuba 1 

Syria 1 

Servia 1 

Poland 1 

Total 9^ 

American 346 (53.9%) 

Foreign born 295 (49.1%) 

(2) List prepared by the Fresno County Eelief and Employment 
Commission for distribution of Christmas presents : 

Total number of families 105 

Total number of children 394 

Foreign born families 52 (49.5%) 

Children 217 (55%) 

(3) Nationalities of parents of children at Fresno County orphanage, 
November 22, 1917. 

American 31 

Italian 6 

Armenian 6 

Portuguese 3 

Mexican 3 

German : 2 

French 2 

German-Russian 1 

German-Russian mother, Austrian father... 2 



Total 56 

American 31 (55.3%) 

Foreign born 25 (44.6%) 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 



25 



The following figures concerning the almshouse and county aid have 
been furnished by the State Board of Charities and Corrections : 

Facts Concerning the Inmates of Fresno County Almshouse, November, 1917. 

Sex. Ages. 

Male 40 Under 50 years 3 

Female 11 50 to 60 years 5 

60 to 70 years 14 

51 70 to 80 years 20 

Over 80 years 8 

Unknown 1 

51 



'Nativity. 

Austria 2 

Canada 1 

China 1 

Denmark 1 

England 1 

P^'rance 2 

Germany 3 

Italy 1 

Ireland 2 

Switzerland 1 

Sweden ^^ 1 

Unknown 3 

u. s.'a.— 

Massachusetts 2 

Iowa 1 

Kentucky 3 

New York 6 

California 2 

Nevada 1 

North Carolina ^ 3 

Vermont ^^i 1 

Georgia 1 

Pennsylvania 1 

Ohio 2 

Missouri 1 

Indiana 4 

Louisiana 1 

Texas 2 

Arkansas 1 

Tennessee 1 

Illinois 1 

— 33 



Occupations. 

Engineer 1 

Carpenter 2 

Laborer 19 

Domestic 6 

Cabinet maker 1 

Farmer 3 

Miner 2 

Peanut vender 1 

Bookkeeper 1 

Sheepherder '. 1 

Teacher 1 

Lawyer 1 

Dressmaker 1 

Cook - 1 

Printer 1 

Unknown 9 



51 



51 



26 FRESNO ^S IMMIGRATION PROBLEM. 

Nativity of 155 Families Receiving Permanent County Aid. 



Name of country 



Number 

of 
families 



Armenia 

Austria 

Canada 

Denmark 

England 

Pranee 

Germany 

Italy 

Ireland 

Mexico 

Norway 

Portugal 

Russia 

Spain 

Sweden 

Turkey 

U. S. A 

U. S. A. (Indians) 
Unknown 

Total 



INDUSTRY. 

In seven important plants in Fresno city 856 women were employed 
in October, 1917. The wages in these industries are often exaggerated. 
As indicated in the statistics furnished by the State Industrial Welfare 
Commission less than half of the women earn as much as $2.50 to $3.00 
a day. Half of the women do not work full time and 30 per cent less 
than five days a week. 

Dried and Green Fruit Packing, Fresno County and City. 

Plants inspected— 

Green fruit — 23 

Dried fruit 23 

Total number employed— ■ Men Women 

Green - - 254 575 

Dried 2,308 2,591 

In the green fruit packing plants practically no foreigners were 
reported. A very few Italians, Armenians and one Pole are listed. 
The following figures are given for the dried fruit plants : 

. Fresno City. 



Guggenhime ■ 

Grifan-Skelley Co. 

Interrieden 

Cal. Raisin, O. P. C. A 

Cal. Raisin, Nos. 5-6 

Rosenberg, Raisin Plant- 
Rosenberg, Pig Plant 

Roeding 

Phoenix 



350 
50O 
2S0 
50O 
30O 
250 
20O 
115 



Russians, 200; Armenians, 135. 

Italians, 50; Spanish, 50; Germans, 50. 

Armenians, 180; Germans, 75; Portuguese, 40. 

Russi'ans, 75 per cent. 

Germans, 469. 

Russians, 175; Portuguese, 25. 

Italians, 107; Armenians, 50; Chinese, 5. 

Italians and Armenians, 90 per cent. 

Russians, 12. 



Armsby shows 50 Germans, 25 Italians. 



COMMISSION OF IMMIGRATION AND HOUSING. 27 

Summary : City of Fresno. 

Number of plants employing foreign bom- 
Less than 25 per cent 1 

25 to 50 per cent . 1 

50 to 75 per cent 3 

75 to lOO per cent 4 

100 per cent 

Data on 6 plants incomplete. 

County of Fresno. 

Del Rey, data incomplete. 
Fowler, Raisin Association— all Americans. 
Oleander, Raisin Association— all Americans. 
Parlier, Barnwell— data incomplete. 

Peach Association — 1 Armenian out of 40 employees; S per cent. 
Selma, Peach Association — 1 Hawaiian out of SO employees; 2 per cent. 
Reedley, Peach Association— 4 Germans, 1 French, out of 40 employees; 10 per cent. 
Kingsburg, Peach Association— 5 Scandinavians out of 30; 17 per cent. 
It is evident that the immigration problem is confined to the city plants. 

Ages of 369 women employed at Associated Raisin Plants 5 and 6, 
and at Eosenberg Co. The largest group is between 30 and 40 years of 
age. 

Under IS 2 

16 to IS 26 

18 to 25 71 

25 to 80 7(3 

30 to 40— 118 

40 to 50 58 

50 to 60 17 . 

Over 60 1 

Total — - S69 

The following tables of hours worked and hourly earnings are com- 
piled for the following plants, as indicative of the industry : 

Firm Number of women 

Roeding 169 

Rosenberg Raisin Plant 142 

Associated Raisin, Nos. 5-6 227 

Armsby No. 2 56 

Griffin-Skelley No. 63 S5 

Armsby No. 1 52 

Interrieden 1*5 

Total - *856 

The earnings have been reduced to an hourly rather than weekly or 
daily basis because (see table of hours) so many do not work 48 hours 
per week. 

As there is no particular difference either in the regularity of hours 
or the amount of earnings between time and piece workers they are 
combined. 

The total number of piece workers is '^^2 

The total number of time workers is ^ 

Total 356 

♦Includes 49 minors, 807 adults. 



28 



Fresno's immigration problem. 



In computing the hours, the division into 8, 16, 24, etc., figures out 
into days of employment. Week of October 27th, at peak of season. 



Number of 


Women and Minors Working Classified Weekly Hours in Selected 
Establishments in Fresno Dried Fruit Plants. 




Number 


Per cent 


S hours or less. 


' 


36 
43 
43 
15 
113 
169 
437 


4.2 


8 to IS 

16 to 24 

24 to 32 - - 





5.0 
5.0 
1.8 


32 to 40 ___ __ 


13.2 


40 to 44 




19.8 


44 to 48 _ 




51.0 








Totals 


856 


100.0 



Average Hourly Earnings of Women and Minors, Week of October 27th, in Selected 
Establishments in Fresno Dried Fruit Plants. 





Number 


Per cent 


Less than 15 cents 

15 to 20 

20 to 25 - — — 


59 
44 
82 
206 
348 
117 


6.9 
5.0 
9.6 


25 to 30 

30 to 40 - - 


24.1 
40.7 


40 and over 


13.7 


Totals 


856 


100.0 



Forty per cent are earning from 30 cents to 40 cents per hour, which 
is $2.50 to $3.00 per day. 

Forty-five per cent earn less than this. When the additional fact is 
considered, that only half of the women work full weeks, that is, 5^ to 6 
days and 30 per cent less than five days, one is convinced that the earn- 
ings as currently reported are greatly exaggerated. The average season 
is five months, September 1 to January 1. The peak of the season is 
October and November. 

This valuable information on the Industries of Fresno was furnished 
by the Industrial Welfare Commission. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

'lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll 



006 803 346 9 



ii:"";. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




006 803 346 9 



Hollinger Corp, 
pH8.5 



